Battery Basics ??

[phorner]

Thanks for the offers guys.... I'll keep ya posted...

[jello_jeep]

OK Mango, Jon.... Lets post names, models and sources for the tools!

It will make them easier for me to order, when Kelly is not looking!

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Hey J-J,

If me and Mango got to do all the leg work for you on this stuff you need to consider we want compensation. We don't work cheap.

http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.com...qx/product.htm

[garyde]

Hi Paul. Before you do anything, check to see if your batteries are wet batteries and the cells are full. I made the mistake of believing my batteries were sealed and they were not. Charging wet bateries w/o water will end their life.
I believe like Jon said Liberty provides a 24 volt built in charger controlled by your circuit breaker panel. Charge for a max of one hour & then start engine.

[phorner]

Well, so far, it's not looking good....

I disconnected one of the batteries and connected a 6 amp battery charger to it, but it doesn't seem to be taking the charge. Also, I shut off both the 12 and 24 volt disconnects.

If the batteries have been drained too low, that could be the end for them, or so it seems.

Still getting the strange clicking noise.... almost like a relay opening and closing.

[garyde]

Hi Paul. Make sure your ignition key is turned off and out of the ignition.

[jello_jeep]

As long as I get to pick the compensation, I'm up with it!

When you use it to check the charging system, are you attaching it at the batteries? Or directily to the charging source ?

Hey J-J,

If me and Mango got to do all the leg work for you on this stuff you need to consider we want compensation. We don't work cheap.

http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.com...qx/product.htm

[Jon Wehrenberg]

On the model I have you select the battery rating, like 750 CCA with it connected to the battery and it tells you the battery condition. It will tell if it needs charging, if has an internal failure and needs replacing, if it is OK, etc.

It will also check the condition of the starting and charging system, but I haven't used it for that yet.

[phorner]

I'm still getting that "clicking" noise on a regular pattern. Could this be from the equalizer? And, does this indicate a problem, or is it a function of the batteries being dead?

Looks like I'm not going to be able to accomplish much. The battery that I disconnected is still drawing 5 amps from a 6 amp charger after 6 hours....

The battery is not accepting the charge? Seems like the charge rate should have dropped significantly or stopped by now.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Not really, you are using what is barely more than a trickle charger on a completely dead battery and that will take a while.

Our bus has a 24 volt equalizer switch that will tie the house with the chassis. With it on we can draw chassis power for the house but not the other way around and our charger will not charge the chassis either.

Get a bigger charger. With it you can split the chassis batts. in half, charge 2 at a time and have enough juice to start in an hour or so